Key Points
- Amar Subramanya, 46, appointed as Apple’s Vice President of AI, effective December 2025
- Will replace John Giannandrea, who steps down after serving as Apple’s AI chief since 2018 and retires in spring 2026
- Subramanya will lead Apple Foundation Models, ML research, and report directly to software chief Craig Federighi
- Spent 16 years at Google leading engineering for Gemini AI assistant and worked with DeepMind
- Served as Corporate Vice President of AI at Microsoft from July 2025 before joining Apple
- Born and raised in Bengaluru, earned BE in Electronics and Communication from Bangalore University in 2001
- Holds PhD from University of Washington, received prestigious Microsoft Graduate Fellowship in 2007
- Apple delayed major Siri AI upgrades to 2026 due to legacy code complications, facing lawsuits over undelivered iPhone 16 features
- CEO Tim Cook reportedly lost confidence in Giannandrea’s progress, transferred some AI responsibilities to Vision Pro creator Mike Rockwell
In one of its most consequential leadership changes since launching Apple Intelligence in 2024, Apple has handed the reins of its all-important artificial intelligence strategy to Amar Subramanya, a seasoned 46-year-old AI researcher with deep expertise spanning both Google and Microsoft. The tech giant announced Subramanya’s appointment as Vice President of AI in December 2025, marking a pivotal moment as Apple attempts to catch up with rivals in the rapidly evolving generative AI landscape.
Subramanya will succeed John Giannandrea, who has served as Apple’s senior vice president of machine learning and AI strategy since joining from Google in 2018. Giannandrea will continue to provide advisory support to Apple and serve on its board in a limited capacity until his planned retirement in spring 2026, ensuring a smooth transition of leadership during this critical period for Apple’s AI ambitions.
Bangalore Roots and Academic Excellence Shape AI Pioneer
Born and raised in Bengaluru, India, Amar Subramanya’s journey from Bangalore classrooms to the pinnacle of Silicon Valley’s AI leadership exemplifies the global impact of Indian engineering talent. He earned his Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Bangalore University in 2001, establishing a strong technical foundation that would propel his career trajectory.
After completing his undergraduate studies, Subramanya pursued advanced research in the United States, earning his PhD from the University of Washington, where his doctoral work focused on machine learning and emerging technologies. In 2007, his exceptional research potential was recognized when he received the prestigious Microsoft Graduate Fellowship, a highly competitive award that supported his groundbreaking work in speech recognition, natural language processing (NLP), and human activity analysis.
16-Year Google Career Culminates in Leading Gemini AI
Subramanya’s professional journey through Silicon Valley’s elite AI organizations spans over two decades of transformative work. He spent an impressive 16 years at Google, where his career path evolved from staff research scientist to principal engineer, and ultimately to Vice President of Engineering, leading teams that bridged cutting-edge machine learning research with large-scale consumer products used by billions worldwide.
At Google, Subramanya rose to prominence as the head of engineering for Gemini, Google’s flagship generative AI assistant and conversational AI product that has become central to the company’s AI strategy. His responsibilities included overseeing the development and deployment of complex AI systems, and he worked closely with DeepMind, Google’s renowned AI research unit, deepening his expertise in advanced model training, deployment strategies, and the practical application of research breakthroughs to consumer-facing products.
Brief Microsoft Stint Before Apple Appointment
In July 2025, Subramanya made a significant career move by joining Microsoft as Corporate Vice President of AI, where he worked on foundation models powering Microsoft’s flagship AI products, including Microsoft Copilot, the company’s intelligent assistant layer integrated across productivity tools and enterprise services. During this period, Microsoft had successfully recruited approximately 20 talented experts from Google DeepMind, with Subramanya being among the most prominent additions to strengthen Microsoft’s AI capabilities.
Shortly after joining Microsoft, Subramanya shared his impressions of the company’s culture in a LinkedIn post, writing, “The people at Microsoft are much nicer than at Google. There’s no competition. Everyone works together. There’s no ego, and the dreams are big.” This observation highlighted the collaborative work environment he experienced, though his tenure at Microsoft would prove brief, lasting only a few months before Apple successfully recruited him for its critical AI leadership position.
New Role Encompasses Critical AI Initiatives at Apple
As Vice President of AI at Apple, Subramanya will oversee essential strategic initiatives that form the backbone of Apple’s artificial intelligence capabilities. His responsibilities include leading Apple Foundation Models, the company’s core large language model infrastructure, machine learning research advancing next-generation AI capabilities, search and knowledge systems, and AI infrastructure that powers products across Apple’s ecosystem. He will report directly to Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering, positioning him at the highest levels of Apple’s technical leadership.
Apple CEO Tim Cook emphasized the significance of this appointment, stating, “AI has long been central to Apple’s strategy, and we are pleased to welcome Amar to Craig’s leadership team and to bring his extraordinary AI expertise to Apple.” The appointment signals Apple’s determination to strengthen its AI capabilities and accelerate product development in response to mounting competitive pressure.
Apple Faces Mounting Pressure Over Delayed Siri Upgrades
Subramanya’s appointment arrives at a challenging moment for Apple’s AI ambitions, as the company grapples with significant delays in delivering promised artificial intelligence enhancements to Siri, its voice assistant platform. Earlier in 2025, Apple acknowledged that major AI-powered Siri upgrades, including the ability to utilize personal context and perform tasks autonomously for users, features that were prominently showcased during the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024, would be postponed until 2026 due to complications with legacy Siri code.
These delays have proven costly for Apple’s reputation and legal standing, with the company facing multiple lawsuits from consumers who purchased iPhone 16 devices expecting the advertised Apple Intelligence features that have not materialized. The setbacks reportedly eroded CEO Tim Cook’s confidence in Giannandrea’s effectiveness, leading Cook to transfer some AI responsibilities to Mike Rockwell, the visionary creator of Apple’s Vision Pro spatial computing headset, earlier in 2025.
Competitive Landscape and Apple’s AI Catch-Up Challenge
In the competitive landscape of artificial intelligence, Apple has been widely perceived as lagging behind industry rivals, particularly when compared to competitors like Samsung Electronics, Google, and Microsoft, which have swiftly integrated advanced generative AI capabilities into their consumer devices and services. Under Giannandrea’s AI leadership, which began in 2018, Apple faced persistent criticism for its slow adoption of generative AI technologies, even as the industry experienced transformative breakthroughs following the emergence of ChatGPT and similar large language models.
The appointment of Subramanya, with his deep experience leading Google’s Gemini assistant and his understanding of Microsoft’s AI strategy, represents Apple’s determination to close this competitive gap. His proven track record of translating advanced AI research into practical, large-scale consumer products positions him ideally to accelerate Apple’s AI roadmap and deliver the enhanced Siri capabilities and Apple Intelligence features that have been promised for 2026 and beyond.
Vision for Apple AI Through 2026 and Beyond
Apple has committed to introducing substantially enhanced AI capabilities throughout 2026, with industry observers anticipating major feature releases alongside iOS 26.4 and subsequent updates. Subramanya will be responsible for orchestrating this critical product roadmap, ensuring that Apple delivers on its promises while establishing a sustainable foundation for future AI innovation across the company’s hardware and software ecosystem.
The success of Subramanya’s leadership will be measured not only by the timely delivery of delayed features but also by Apple’s ability to differentiate its AI approach through privacy-preserving technologies, on-device processing capabilities, and seamless integration across the Apple ecosystem spanning iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Vision Pro platforms. His appointment represents Apple’s bet that a leader with experience at the forefront of AI innovation at both Google and Microsoft can finally position Apple as a true leader, rather than a follower, in the AI revolution transforming the technology industry.
